Oil-refining device



' April 22, 1930. E. L. GROSS 1,755,440

OIL REFINING DEVICE.

Filed April 4, 1927 7 g 1 \J/ f 7 ,4. 1 J

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES EDWARD L GROSS OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS OVIL-REFINING DEVICE Application filed April 4, 1927. Serial No. 180,675.

This invention pertains to oil refining devices and more particularly to 011 rectifiers for use in COIIJUIlCtlOIl with internal combustion engines. An object of this invention is i r to provide a refining device to be associated with internal combustion engines, which de vice permits a portion of the crankcase oil to flow by gravity into said device, and to retain the oil Within the refining device until a 19 sufficient temperature and pressure is reached to automatically force or lift the oil out of the refiner so that it may be returned to the crankcase. r

In nearly all oil refining devices heretofore used, an oil is caused to circulate through the refiner, or heating element thereof, either by a branch pressure lineleading from the oil pump, or by means of a suction obtained from the vacuum in the intake manifold, or

. from a vacuum pump, the heating means for the refiner or 'heatingelement thereof being secured from the exhaust gases, or by burning a portion of the incoming carburetted mixture of air and gasoline vapors;

As it is essential to maintain the tempera ture of the circulating oil between definite limits, in order to secure a removal of the diluents and to avoid over-heating of the oil, it has been found necessary to employ with these devices a thermostatic control to either regulate the flow of oil through the refiner or to regulate the heating means. and where the suction of the intake manifold has been utilized to cause a circulation of oil through the refiner, it has been essential to employ floats, springs, valves and levers, in order to permit the refined oil to be again delivered to the crankcase.

A further object, therefore, of my invention is to provide an oil refining device which will be entirely automatic in operation, which will maintain the oil at the desired temperature, which will cause a circulation of oil without relying upon pump pressure or the suction of the intake manifold, which will be entirely free of all thermostatic regulating devices, floats, springs and levers, and at the same time which will cause a removal from the lubricating oil of all diluents, such as gasoline, kerosene and water, and also, if desired,

which will remove all foreign particles sus pended in the oil, such as .road dust, carbon and small pieces of metal. 7

With the ordinary gasoline engine or engine of similar character utilizing the lighter hydrocarbons of the fuel, more or lessof the fuel charge, depending upon the tightness of the piston rings, finds itsway into the lubricating oil in the crankcase of the engine reducing its lubricating quality. This inven- 6 tion, therefore, is designed to remedy this defect to thereby give a longer life to the em I gine oil and therefore to the engine parts.

Still further objects of my invention are in the special features of construction whereby compactness and positive operation are secured. These and other objects and novel features of my inventionare hereafter more fully described andclaimed, and a preferred construct-ion of an oilrefining device embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic showing an internal combustion'engine with my improved oil refining device in assembled relation therewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section, more or less diagrammatical, through the re fining device and associated filler; and

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the refining device connected directly to the crankcase instead of to an intervening filter. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same referenc character.

For the purpose of illustration, my oil refining device is shown by Figure 1 as mounted upon a conventional type of internal combustion engine A which is only outlined in a diagrammatic manner since my improved oil refining device can be employed-for any type of internal combustion engine.

Referring to the drawings, I provide a small receptacle 1 which can be easily inserted into the exhaust manifoldor the exhaust pipe 6 of an internal combustion engine where it will be subjected to the heat of the exhaust gases. The receptacle 1 forms a cylindrical chamber closed at its lower end and which is tapped at its upper end to receive the centrally apertured plug 2. An apertured boss 3 is provided on the side and near the top of receptacle 1, through which a How of oil can take place into the receptacle 1 by means of the conduit which in turn communicates The preferred location of receptacle 1 is at an elevation which provides a head of oil in crankcase, 20 above the apertured boss 3 thus permitting the oil to flow by gravity from the crankcase into the receptacle 1 and filling same to a height which will insure the lower end of conduit 4 being submerged in the oil for at'least approximately one-half inch.

The second receptacle 15 is preferably made in the shape of a cylindrical container with a centrally apertured bottom providing a connection for a conduit permitting a flow of oil out of the receptacle back into the crankcase. The receptacle 15 is provided with a cover 7 having integral therewith three apertured bosses 17 18 and 19 providing respectivelyconnections for the conduit 4, air vent 29 andthe conduit Swhich leads to the intake manifold 21, thus permitting the production of a partial vacuum within the receptacle 15 and permitting the withdrawal of the volatilized diluents from the heated oil and which are then burned in the cylinders as fuel. The receptacle 15 may be provided with the usual cooling fins in order to insure the oil being conducted back to the crankcase at as low a temperature as possible, which is especially desirable for summer running or long hauls.

here desired, the conduit to the intake manifold may be omitted, and the vapors and gases arising from the vaporized diluents are permitted to pass off into the atmosphere. The air vent 29 serves to permit a flow of air into the receptacle 15 and which air is of service in carrying away the volatilized diluents, and at the same time preventing the building up of too great a vacuum in the receptacle 15. i

Receptacle 15 may be provided with a filter 15 through which the relatively thin heated oil is obliged to pass before returning to the crankcase, thus causing a removal of all suspended matter, so that no dirt, grit or other foreign and"harmful substances will be drawn into the cylinders.

A check valve 11 is inserted in conduit 5 between crankcase 'and receptacle 1 opening with flow of oil from the crankcase and closing against flow from receptacle toward crankcase. A check valve 12 is inserted in conduit 4 between receptacle 1 and receptacle 15 permitting a flow of oil from receptacle 1 but closing against flow of oil or vapors back toreceptacle 1. Y r

In operation a flow of oil takes place into receptacle 1 due to the head of oil in crankcase 20. The oil fills, or partially fills, the receptacle and rises up in the conduit l (depending upon the position of the device to a level corresponding to the upper level of oil in the crankcase. Due to the heat of the exhaust gases the oil in receptacle 1 becomes quickly raised in temperature and the diluents being of a lower boiling point than the oil, rapidly volatilize and tend to escape from the oil as vapors and gates. As the gases and vapors cannot escape out of receptacle 1 through conduit 5, due toclosure of check valve 11, and as they cannot escape through conduit 4., due to its lower opening being submerged in the'oil, the generated gases and vapors must build up a sufficient pressure within receptacle 1 which will force the oil downward within the receptacle and upward through conduit l, as indicated by the arrows Figure 2. Since the pressure required to cause a flow of oil out of the receptacle and upward through conduit #1- must be sufficient to overcome the pressure head, due to the height of the oil column in conduit 4, and as the pressure of the combined gases and vapors is directlyproporticnal to the temperature, automatic means is thus provided whereby the oil must be heated to a predetermined minimum temperature before a flow of heated oil is delivered out of the receptacle through conduit 14 and into the second receptacle 15. i

As conduit sellers a restricted passage for the flow of the heated oil and as the receptacle is being exposed to the hot exhaust gases, while the oil is being forced out of receptacle 1, the temperature of the oil and tea pressure of the generated gases and vapors rises rapidly, so that a pressure considerably in excess of that actually required to lift the oil is developed within the receptacle, and above the receding oil level therein. with the result that when the oil level within the receptacle drops below the lower end of conduit 4, a sudden rush of the accumulated vapors and gases takes place through the conduit l, causing an immediate and sudden drop in pressure within the receptacle 1. The pres sure due to head of oil within the crankcase of engine A is then greater than the pressure within the receptacle 1, thus causing check valve 11 to open and permitting a flow of oil to pass from crankcase through conduit 5 and apertured boss 3 into the receptacle 1. The incomingoil being at a comparatively low temperature causes a sudden drop in temperature within'the receptacle, so that the partial condensation of vapors Within thereceptacle take place with a productionof a partial vacuum, thus causing checkvalve 12 to close and assisting theflow of oil through conduit 5 into the receptacle, wheat-he cycle above outlined again takes place and continues as long as the engine is in operation.

The receptacle 1 with its communicating conduits t and 5 and check valves 11 and 12 consisting of a cylindrical chamber, an inlet function, therefore, as an automatic pump and distillator, intermittently permitting a flow. of oil into the receptacle. 1, heating the oil to the required temperature whereby the diluents are .volatilized, and then forcing the heated oil and volatilized diluents out of the receptacle, so that the heated oil can be re-- turned either directly to the, crankcase or preferably passed through a second receptacle 15 where it is filtered and the volatilized diluents drawn off.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, the oil filter and cooler is omitted, the connecting pipe 4 being replaced by the pipe 4 which may be provided with the check valve 12,

connecting directly to preferably the upper part of the crankcase. The operation of the oil receptacle 1 is exactly the same for this form as that alreadydescribed for that form embodying the oil filter except that it will be seen that the purifiedroil moves directly from receptacle 1 to the crank case 20. After the oil is exhausted fromqreceptacle 1,,the vapors or gases as such are permitted to pass through the pipe 4 to the crankcase Where they are free to be exhausted to the atmosphere through the usual breather pipe provided in the crankcase. I

Having thus described my invention it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in thesame without departing from the spirit of my invention,

hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction, arrangement, combination of parts or use as mentioned. For example, I am not limited as to the location of receptacle 1 as I may install it at any convenient point, nor am I dependent upon the head of oil in the crankcase to secure a flow of oil into the receptacle or distillator 1. For example, I may install the receptacle 1 at a point high up on the side of the engine and inserted in the exhaust manifold, a head of oil being secured from an oil well securing itssupply from a branch from the main oil pump line or from the re: turn oil line from an oil filter with which many engines are equipped, Neither am I limited to the exhaust gases as a means of heating the oil within the receptacle or dis- .tillator 1, as I can arrange to secure heat'by by-passing a portion of the carburetted gas going to the cylinders and by burning same in a closed space into which receptacle 1 inserted. Y

I claim:

1. In an oil refining device, a receptacle, said receptacle comprising an oil receiving portion adapted to be associated with heating means, and an oil inlet and an oil outlet,

boss, a centrally 'aperturedplug adapted to be associated with said chamber, and an outlet for said chamber extending to a point adijacent the bottom ofthe cylindrical chamber and below the oil level in the chamber and delivering the oil from said chamber at a point above said level by the pressure of the vapor formed in said chamber.' v

3. In an oil refining system for an internal combustion engine, the combination of an exhaust pipe, a receptacle connected to'said engine for receiving the oil from the engine, said receptacle being associated with said exhaust pipe and disposed below the engine, oil cooling and straining means, connection be: tween said receptacle and said straining means, said connection having a portionextending to a point adjacentthebase of the I manifold.

4. .In an oil refining system for crankcase oil, the combinationof a heater, a receptacle associated with said heater and'connected to said crankcase for'receiving andrefining the oil from the crankcase, oil cooling and. filtering means, connection between said receptacle and said last named means, connection be tween the said last named means and the crankcase and intake manifold, and valves in the connections between the crankcase and receptacle and receptacle and cooling means for insuring flow of oil in only one direction, the oil in said receptacle being delivered therefrom at a point above the oil level in said receptacle by the pressure of the vapor formed therein. v I

5. In an oil refining system for crankcase oil, the combination of'a heater, a'receptacle for receiving the oil from the crankcase associated with said heater, an inlet connection to the receptacle from the crankcase, an outlet connection to the crankcase, and one-way valves in said connections for the purpose described, the oil in said receptacle being de-- livered therefrom at a point above the oil level in said receptacle by the'pressure of the vapor formed therein.

6. In an oil refining system for crankcase nection in the receptacle disposed below the inlet connection and at a point adjacent the bottom of the receptacle, and'one-way valves in said connections.

7 In an oil refining system for crankcase oil, the combination of an exhaust pipe, a receptacle disposed in the exhaust pipe for receiving the oil, oil cooling and filtering means, connection between said receptacle and said last named means, said connection extending to a point below the oil level in said receptacle and delivering the oil therefrom to saidlast named means above said level by the pressure of the vapor formed in said receptacle, and a connection between said last named means and the engine and intake manifold. I i

8. In an oil refining system for crankcase oil, the combination of an exhaust pipe, a

receptacle disposed in the exhaust pipe for.

and valves in the connections between the crankcase and receptacle, and receptacle'and cooling means whereby flow of the oil can only be in the direction given.

9. In an .oil refining system for crankcase oil, the combination of an exhaust pipe, a receptacle disposed in the exhaust pipe for receiving the oil, oil cooling and filtering mean provided with an air vent, connection between said receptacle and said last named means, and a connection between said-last named means and the engine and intake manifold.

10. In an oil refining system for crankcase oil, the combination of a heater,'a receptacle in said heater for receiving the oil, oil cooling and filtering means provided with an air vent, connection between the receptacle and said last named means, and connection between said last named means and the engine and intake manifold whereby said last named means supplies the vapor to the manifold and oil' to the crankcase.

11. In a fluid refining system, the combination of a fluid reservoir, a receptacle connected thereto to receive and trap fluid from said reservoir, a heater associated with said receptacle for imparting heat thereto, and a return connection from said receptacle to said reservoir so disposed thatpressure generated by diluents of said fluid in said receptacle will return refined fluid to said reservoir. l

12. In a fluid refining system, the combination of a fluid reservoir, a closed'receptacle having inlet and outlet connections communicating with said reservoir, said receptacle being adapted to receive and trap fluid from 7 said reservoir, a heater associated with said receptacle for imparting heat thereto, said outlet connection being so arranged that pressure generated by diluents of said fluid in said receptacle will return refined fluid to said reservoir. 1

13. In a fluid refining system, the combi nation of a fluid reservoir, a closed receptacle having inlet and outlet connections communicating with said reservoir, means in at least one of saidconnections permitting fiow of fluid in only one direction, said receptacle being adapted to receive and trap fluid from said reservoir, heater associated with said receptacle for imparting heat thereto, said outlet connection being so arranged that pressure generated by diluents of said fiuid in said receptacle will return refined fluid to said reservoir.

14. In a fluid refining system, the combination of a fluid reservoir, a closed receptacle having inlet and outlet connections communieating with said reservoir,.means in at least one of said connectionspermitting flow of fluid in only one direction, said receptacle being adapted to receive and trap fluid from said reservoir, a heater associated with said receptacle for imparting'heat thereto, said outlet connection and said means being so arranged that pressure generated by the ieated fluid and 'diluents thereof in said receptacle will successively stop flow of fluid from said reservoir to said receptacle, expel said fluid and diluents from said receptacle and causeoperation of said means to replenish said receptacle.

15. The process of purifyin oil, which includes segregating a portion of said oil, heating said segregated portion of oil to cause partial vaporization thereof, and removing a part of said segregated portion by the pres sure of vaporization.

16. In an oil purifying device, the combination of an oil reservoir, a' receptacle for receiving oil therefrom, a connection between said receptacle and reservoir having means for insuring flow of oil only from said reservoir, a connection between said receptacle and reservoir including means for permitting flow of oil only from said receptacle, and heating means associated with said receptacle for heating the oil therein. whereby the pressure caused by vaporization expels oil from said receptacle through said last named connection to said reservoir.

17. In an oil purifying device, the combination of an oil reservoir, a receptacle for receiving oil therefrom, a connection between said receptacle and reservoir having'means for insuring flow of oil only from said reservoir, said receptacle being disposed below said reservoir whereby oil is fed to said receptacle by gravity, a'connection between said receptacle and reservoir including means for permitting flow of oil only from said receptacle, and heating means associated with said receptacle for heating the oil therein whereby the pressure caused by vaporization eXpels oil from said receptacle through said last named connection to said reservoir.

18. In an oil refining system for crankcase oil, the combination of a heater, a receptacle for receiving the oil from the crankcase associated with said heater, said receptacle being disposed below said crankcase whereby oil is fed to said receptacle by gravity, an inlet connection to the receptacle from the crankcase, an outlet connection to the crankcase, and one-way valves in said connections for the purpose described.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of April, 1927.

EDWARD L. GROSS. 

